HomeUOB Painting of the Year
Overview

UOB Painting of the Year

UOB plays an active role in communities across the region, most notably through its long-term commitment to art. As the leading patron of the arts in Asia, the Bank continues to make art accessible to a wider audience through a diverse range of visual art programmes, partnerships and community outreach across the region.

The Bank’s flagship art programme is the UOB Painting of the Year competition, which was started in 1982 to recognise Southeast Asian artists and to offer them the opportunity to showcase their works to the wider community. The competition was extended to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and in 2023, to Vietnam. It is now the longest running art competition in Singapore and one of the most prestigious in Southeast Asia.

For more details, please visit https://www.UOBandArt.com.

2024

Download the 2024 UOB Painting of the Year catalogue here.

LUONG XUAN DOAN - Art Advisor

Leading artist

President of Vietnam Fine Arts Association

Former Deputy Director of the Culture and Arts Department, Propaganda Department of the Party Central Committee

Born in 1952 in Hanoi, he began painting at a young age under strict academic guidance and inherited his qualities and talents from his uncle.

He graduated from the Vietnam Fine Arts University in 1980. He was active in the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (from 1983 to 1989), and together with the Association's Young Artists Committee, he created new turning points for the Vietnam Doi Moi Fine Arts. He used to be Deputy Director of the Culture and Arts Department (Propaganda Department) of the Party Central Committee.

DANG XUAN HOA - Chief Judge

Leading artist

Chairman of the painting arts council of Vietnam Fine Arts Association. 

He participated in work and artistic activities of the Indochina Arts Program (AIP) in Boston Massachusetts American in 1994-1995. He has plenty of exhibitions in America, Europe and Asia from 1988. In 2008, he was in top 10 of Larasati Auction “Southeast Asia Art” in Amsterdam, top 12 of Sotheby ’s Auction “Modern and contemporary Southeast Asian Painting” in Hong Kong. 

There are many works are represented in domestic and foreign collections. His prominent works are in the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Singapore Art Museum, National Visual Art Gallery in Malaysia.

TRINH TUAN - Judge

Leading artist

He had been a lecturer at Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts and visiting lecturer at Vietnam University of Fine Arts, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand; Naresuwan University, Thailand, … (1985 – 2021). He is member of the International Lacquer Association.

In 2007, Asia Art Link was founded by him with the support of artists Ng Bee (Malaysia) and Susan Lin (Taiwan) with the criteria of taking artistic and cultural exchange as the direction of activities with the desire to connecting artists across continents, thereby creating conditions for international artists to have the opportunity to learn more about the culture and art of each country.

NGUYEN THI CHAU GIANG - Judge

Leading artist

In 2011, Châu Giang turned to silk as her medium, drawn to its lightness and the way her female figures appeared bolder. Giang is proficient in traditional silk painting techniques incorporating contemporary perspectives. Her artwork addresses the traditional roles of gender and the changing place of women in Vietnamese patriarchal society, as well as contemplates on the nature of lives, especially from women’s points of view.

Her work is represented in the collections of the Hermitage Museum (Russia), Singapore Art Museum (Singapore), Fukuoka Japanese Art Museum (Japan) and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (Vietnam).

1. UOB Painting of the Year Award

“Flow”

Artist: Nguyen Viet Cuong

The artwork employs two native materials - Quang Ninh coal and rice flour from the Mekong Delta - to tell the story of Vietnam’s natural resources through the lens of North-South industrial and agricultural production. The artist skillfully combines these materials to create a contemporary ink-wash landscape, with abstract effects resembling stalactite formations, emphasising the dialogue between black and white, light and shadow. This is a grand narrative about the intersection of industry and agriculture, and their impact on the natural landscape and local cultural practices.

About the artist

Nguyen Viet Cuong (b. 1989) grew up in Kien Giang and graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts. His aesthetic sensibility intertwines with contemporary themes, using materials as a means to engage in dialogue with reality. With a spirit of resistance to dualism and a belief in the natural flow of things, Cuong continues to craft new narratives from raw materials, which are deeply embedded in the collective memory and everyday life of bustling Saigon and Vietnam as a whole, evoking reflection and introspection.

2. Gold Award

“Folding Paper Planes”

Artist: Nguyen Van He

The war zone of Hòa Mỹ, Huế, where childhood games were intertwined with the traumas of mine-sweeping for survival. The artist meticulously collects wartime remnants - pieces of plywood, before sanding, cutting, and reshaping them into the innocent image of paper planes. The traces of war manifest through layers of paint, metal, and mottled patterns, conveying a profound message about the irrevocable loss of an innocent childhood.

About the artist

Nguyen Van He (b. 1981), a graduate from the University of Arts, Hue University, is a contemporary artist. Having grown up in the post-war era, he reflects on the emotions and thoughts of the next generation, questioning the cyclical nature of conflict and war. His practice spans various mediums, including painting, sculpture, performance, and installation. With great dedication, he collects fragments and ruins from former military zones and local ruins, infusing them into his work to explore these complex themes.

3. Silver Award

“Encroachment”

Artist: Ngo Van Sac

The work explores the artist's experiences during field trips along the coast of Vietnam, where he witnessed the sea encroachment, deforestation, and the impact of hydropower dam constructions on the Mekong River. Utilising techniques of cutting and burning wood panels combined with painting and printing, the artist creates a multi-dimensional image that reflects the complex relationship between humanity and nature. The imagery of waves and people from various regions intertwines, mirroring nature's resistance while questioning how humanity treats the environment.

About the artist

Ngo Van Sac (b. 1980), a graduate from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, has shaped a unique artistic style through his wood-burning technique. Unsatisfied with his initial wood paintings, he decided to burn them, and in doing so, discovered a new artistic direction. The fusion of fire and wood has allowed him to express powerful and profound emotions.

4. Bronze Award

“The Journey Home”

Artist: Le Viet Trung

During a visit to their homeland, the artist reclines on the sandy shore, allowing their mind to drift into reflections on life and death, ultimately architecting a portrait of themselves. The water enveloping the wild grasses subtly reveals a human silhouette: the face tilted to the left, identity obscured, limbs relaxed and at ease. Each meticulous brushstroke captures every blade of grass and branch, merging in a gentle green hue, like a symphony of life that evokes the eternal cycle of existence, where human life intertwines with the clean and clear stream.

About the artist

Le Viet Trung (b. 1982) is currently a lecturer at University of Arts, Hue University. His artistic practice focuses primarily on silk, employing intricate silk-dyeing and resist techniques. His work revolves around the simple beauty of nature and people, capturing delicate, dreamy, and introspective emotions.

1. Most Promising Artist of the Year Award

“Doraeco”

Artist: Phan Tu Tran

The artwork consists of six playing cards laid out on a casino table, each projecting a different facet of ecological pollution: Earth (Jack of Diamonds), Water (Queen of Hearts), Air (King of Spades), and Energy (Queen of Clubs). The Joker card, depicting Doraemon in a state of confusion, symbolises the conflict between technological advancement and environmental consequences. The final card, yet to be revealed, embodies an uncertain future for the next generation, who will inherit both the achievements and burdens left by their predecessors.

About the artist

Phan Tu Tran (b. 1990) began her career as an illustrator and now primarily practises art through a derivative style, creating new concepts and layers from familiar imageries. She focuses on experimenting with new materials to tell light-hearted, everyday stories to the public.

2. Silver Award

“Diary 2024”

Artist: Nguyen Duc Niem 

Inspired by the intimate revelations hidden within the artist’s personal journal, the work features a layer of blue paint concealing an envelope—a metaphor for the unresolved issues and secrets that remain obscured or overwritten. The envelope bears the inscription "From: Niệm 25 To: Niệm 24", a poignant message from the artist to their past self, evoking a sense of nostalgia for moments that have slipped away. The letters and numbers are rendered in a personal cipher, embodying the artist’s desire to articulate their innermost thoughts, even if they remain enigmatic and elusive.

About the artist

Nguyen Duc Niem (b. 1999) is a young artist who graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from University of Arts, Hue University in 2022. His work delves into historical relics and familiar everyday scenes, through which he intertwines and infuses personal expressions into his creations.

2023

Download the 2023 UOB Painting of the Year catalogue here.

KWOK KIAN CHOW - Special Art Advisor 

Mr Kwok Kian Chow was a senior curator (1992-1994) of the National Museum of Singapore, director (1994-2009) of the Singapore Art Museum, and director (2009- 2011) and senior advisor (2011-2015) of the National Gallery Singapore. He was the associate professor and headed the arts and culture management programme (2015-2019) and Wee Kim Wee Centre (2017-2018) at the Singapore Management University. Mr Kwok is a steering committee and board member of Global (De) Centre, and has been a member of the UOB Group Art Advisory Panel since 1994. He holds the Singapore Public Administration Medal (Silver) and the Officier and Chevalier titles in the French Order of Arts and Letters.

LUONG XUAN DOAN - Chief Judge

Leading artist 

President of Vietnam Fine Arts Association

Former Deputy Director of the Culture and Arts Department, Propaganda Department of the Party Central Committee.

Born in 1952 in Hanoi, he began painting at a young age under strict academic guidance and inherited his qualities and talents from his uncle. He graduated from the Vietnam Fine Arts University in 1980.

He was active in the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (from 1983 to 1989), and together with the Association's Young Artists Committee, he created new turning points for the Vietnam Doi Moi Fine Arts. He used to be Deputy Director of the Culture and Arts Department (Propaganda Department) of the Party Central Committee.

TRAN LUONG - Judge

Leading artist 

Mr Tran Luong is a performance and visual artist, independent curator, and major figure in creating space for critical contemporary art in Vietnam. Among the first local artists to experiment with performance and video, his artwork is grounded in local experience. Challenging socio-political legacies and policies that repress individual expression, his work offers moving reflections on the impact of ideology on the body, particularly the internalisation of political repression at a young age in works such as “Lap Loe” (2007-2013). 

Mr Tran Luong co-founded the Gang of Five (1983-1996), which organised monthly exhibitions in alternative spaces. In 1998, he co-founded Nha San Studio, the country’s first, artist-led, experimental art space, and curated most of its exhibitions in the initial four years. He is also the founding director of APD Center for Art Patronage and Development in 2020. A generous mentor of youth, Mr Tran Luong goes beyond normal curatorship, encouraging performers to push the boundaries, negotiating censorship with the authorities, creating exchanges between North, Centre, and South Vietnam, bringing diasporan artists back, and hosting international artists. 

His moving artworks critique repression, emphasise human resilience, and empower the individual through personal action and self- reflection; for his dedicated energy in developing spaces, initiatives, networks, and communities for performance and video arts in Vietnam. Mr Tran Luong has participated in many art international events such as Jogja Biennale 2019, Thailand Biennale 2018, Taipei Biennale 2016, Asian Art Biennial Taichung 2015, Havana Biennale 2009, Busan Biennale 2004, Liverpool Biennale 2002 and Fukuoka Asian Triennale 2002.

TIA-THUY NGUYEN - Judge

Leading artitst

Ms Tia-Thuy Nguyen was born and raised in Hanoi. After graduating from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts (2006), she moved to Ukraine, where she achieved her PhD in Fine Arts at the National Academy of Fine Art and Architect, Kiev (2014).

Ms Tia-Thuy Nguyen has been practicing painting since 1999. Her artworks usually focus on the observation of her surroundings, and the colourful yet chaotic feelings of a woman who lives in this modern world. 

Being conscious about the difficulties of the Vietnamese art scene, in 2016, Ms Tia-Thuy Nguyen founded The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre, the first purpose-built space for contemporary art in Vietnam, that aims to be a dynamic destination for art and design display and education, demonstrating the creative criticality of Vietnam today. She challenges women’s roles in today’s society, with her own experience as a mother, a fashion designer and an artist. Ms Tia-Thuy Nguyen’s artworks have been exhibited, auctioned and collected widely in Vietnam and Europe. In 2019, she became the first Vietnamese artist whose artwork has become a part of the prestigious Château La Coste’s collection, Aix-en-Provence, France. In the same year, she has been listed in “Top 50 most influential women in Vietnam 2019” by Forbes Vietnam.

1. UOB Painting of the Year Award

“Water Palace”

Author: Artist Trinh Minh Tien

Thủy phủ (Water Palace) represents an ethereal vision of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi, with rain on the car windshield recreated by the artist on a car bonnet. The Cathedral was built on the foundation of the destroyed Bao Thien tower of Bao Thien Pagoda. Two layers of covering, space within space, time within time - creating surrealism within realism.

This artwork contemplates and questions the clash of values in the course of history and society with a historical manmade structure in contrast to the impermanence of time and memory.

About the artist

Trinh Minh Tien has persistently pursued hyperrealism for many years. For him, painting is a natural and continuous act, much like the way he paints with an airbrush starting from a single point and gradually spreading until he finishes. The use of airbrush on automobile shells as canvas affirms Trinh Minh Tien's unconventional art practice.

2. Gold Award

“Beings Painting #1”

Author: Artist Pham Tran Viet Nam

Họa chúng sinh #1 (Beings Painting #1) depicts the trilogy of works and densely crowded webs of human faces, encroaching and suffocating under the pressure of urban developments. The artwork includes bruised faces in combats, children at wars, medieval beggars, coal miners and the innocents struggling to survive in a world filled with complexities.

About the artist

Pham Tran Viet Nam's compositions convey humanitarian messages from the depths of his compassion, the emotional resonance he feels toward societal situations and sufferings in the immediate world. He is drawn into contemplative thoughts about his time and his paintings are sculptural - he sews, embroiders, patches pieces of canvas together, and punches holes into his canvas before painting them.

3. Silver Award

“Decelerated Reality”

Author: Artist Lai Dieu Ha

Hiện thực chậm lại (Decelerated Reality) is an expression of the artist’s personal history, approach and creative process. This artwork recured her own performance Extended North-Needle  (2019) and created a new identity.

The painting is the result of three levels of creation: using the artist's body as the subject, delving into the subconscious thorough psychological research, and finally translating it into a painting. The enduring anguish of loss due to conflicts and chaos and taking risks to go beyond the safe boundary.

About the artist

For over a decade, the public has identified Lai Dieu Ha as an “extreme performance artist.” After four years in retreat to burrow into the method of psycho-dramatic therapy, she came back with painting as the next stage in examining what the boundaries of performing art truly entails while exploring society and humanity from the lens of performance referencese.

4. Bronze Award

“World”

Author: Artist Duong Ngoc Tuan

Thế giới (World) employs an expressive and surreal visual language within an abstract and ambiguous space, with rich monochromatic brushstrokes. This artwork represents a significant departure in terms of the theme from the peaceful and realistic paintings that have long been associated with the artist's practice.

About the artist

Duong Ngoc Tuan has been practicing art for over 20 years with an ardent passion in painting. Throughout his journey, he has experimented with various materials, including oil, lacquer, acrylic, silk, and more.

1. Most Promising Artist of the Year Award

“Fly on my way”

Author: Ta Duy Tung

Trên con đường (Fly on my way) draws inspiration from the pair of shoes the artist used to wear during his school days and holiday job. Only one shoe is seen to illustrate how he has been overcoming odds and emerging stronger.

The untied lace signifies uncertain steps, yet the shoe taking flight and portraying how scattered elements could be extraordinary. Its background is reduced to a flat, dark space for the subject to take focus and accentuate its surrealism.

About the artist

Ta Duy Tung's artistic inclination revolves around depicting the familiar in a realistic manner, serving as symbols for meaning within his conscious, subconscious, and unconscious minds. In addition to painting, he is also passionate about martial arts and Eastern philosophy. Before starting to paint, he often meditates, much like preparing for a match. While painting, he always strives to achieve the best possible state of each brushstroke and shade – when he fails to reach this level of perfection, he is willing to fully scrap his work in progress.

2. Gold Award

“Through tranquility”

Author: Lam Phoi Dung

Qua tĩnh lặng (Through tranquility) is a continuation of the artist exploring different forms of alternative spaces. It serves as a form of escapade, welcoming viewers into familiar spaces that evoke a peaceful time one has had. The painting is a piece of memoir and memories of a person racing against time yet striving to slow oneself.

About the artist

Lam Phoi Dung is a print designer and visual art practitioner. She is in love with exploring and creating alternate narratives of life within nature, matter, and colour that corresponds to her journey of self-exploration. She often uses storytelling and nature as an endless inspiration at the core of her practice – creating alternative spaces to escape for herself and viewers.

3. Silver Award

“Emptiness”

Author: Nguyen Anh Vu

Tính Không/Śūnyatā (Emptiness) depicts a young man with red hair, carrying a hint of melancholy, gently glancing at the viewer, or, from the viewer, looking away in another direction. With this gaze, the viewer is no longer a viewer but can start a conversation with the character. The young man's form is distilled into lines and colours, drawing the viewer's attention towards the motion and the gaze of the character, forging a lasting connection. The artist sees himself in this character – initially portrays someone other than himself. “I am composed of what is not me", and this work is a zen koan.

About the artist

Nguyen Anh Vu is a young graphic designer who specialises in simplicity and functionality. Besides design, he is also passionate about languages and the history of Fine Arts, which led him to artmaking. His artworks marry graphic design, oil pastels and paper-cutting.

4. Bronze Award

“Lost”

Author: Nguyen Huu Tang

Lạc lối (Lost) is a call for the end of animal cruelty practices in luxury fashion. Luxury fashion has thrived and gained importance to many. Despite growing awareness and collective call for ethical practices, luxury brands still persist in ruthless pursuit of profit at the expense of innocent animals.

In this painting, we see images of hunted species, their fur cruelly stripped from their bodies, enduring emotional stress and deprivation, and disruptions to biodiversity – our planet’s natural balance can only be restored or preserved when all forms of life are valued and cherished.

About the artist

Nguyen Huu Tang is an independent artist who graduated from University of Fine Arts Ho Chi Minh City specialising in lacquer painting, commerce and media works for many years. His style evoke influences from comics and cartoons from his childhood. The themes of his creations aim to provoke a certain disquietude in the (young) audience regarding contemporary societal issues.